Variable leg-rest control arrangement for multiple position reclining chair



3,317,240 IPLE May 2, 1967 P. s. FLETCHER VARIABLE LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR MULT POSITION RECLINING CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May lg, 1961 INVENTOR. P575? 5. Fuzrcmee' M IPLE May 2, 1967 P. s. FLETCHER VARIABLE LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR MULT POSITION RECLINING CHAIR l2, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May INVENTOR. PETA-e 6. F115 70/52 y 1967 s. FLETCHER 3,317,240

P. VARIABLE LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed May 12, 1961 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

INVENTOR W PETER. s. FLE r l/EQ ATTORNEY5 previ-ously-devised multiple-position unit is moved to its fully-tilted position. latter position,.the leg-rest is automatically adjusted to the proper leg-supporting position for maximum comfort.

United States Patent 3,317,240 VARIABLE LEG-REST CGNTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Peter S. Fletcher, Delray Beach, Fla, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,721 5 Claims. (Cl. 297--89) This invention relates to improvements in multiple position reclining chairs, and in particular to a novel and improved leg-rest control arrangement for chairs of this type. This application contains structure similar to that shown in my co-pending US. patent application Serial Number 35,688, filed June 13, 1960 (now Patent No. 3,142,510), and constitutes a continuation-in-part thereof.

In general, the invention finds useful application in reclining chairs of the multiple movement type having either a rigidly connected seat and back-rest or a movably connected seat and back-rest. In particular, this invention is useful in solving certain problems in a multiple position reclining chair in which the seat and back-rest are formed rigidly with each other as an integral bodysupporting unit and in which this unit is mounted 'on a sup port frame for movement to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, and then for further movement to a fully-tilted or reclining position. In the intermediate,tilted sitting position, the body-supporting unit is slightly tilted rearwardly, but the occupants body is still in a substantially erect sitting position suitable for reading, viewing television or the like. In this position, the leg-rest has been raised from a retracted position to an extended, legsupporting position forwardly of the seat and substantially at the level thereof, so as to support the outstretched legs of the occupant. When the body-supporting unit is then moved to the fully-tilted position for greater relaxation, the leg-rest is maintained in its extended position.

In reclining chairs, the maximum amount of comfort is achieved where the seat and back-rest are formed as separate parts and are provided with a degree of movement relative to each other. When the chair is moved to the fully-reclined position, the angle between the seat and back-rest is increased to support the occupants body in the optimum position of repose. Where the seat and back-rest are formed as a rigid unit in the interest of economy, however, there can be no increase 111 the angle therebetween when the chair is brought to the fully-tilted or reclining position. This means that the fully-tilted position represents a compromise position in which the seat is inclined somewhat more than desired and the back-rest is reclined somewhat less than desired for the maximum amount of comfort. Inclining the seat to a greater pitch than its optimum position results in the raising of the leg-rest to a greater extent than is desired to support the occupants legs comfortably. Thus, in reclining chairs, where the seat and back-rest are rigid with each other, the leg-rest in the fully-tilted or reclining position is raised above a horizontal plane and is somewhat too high relative to the occupants head to provide the most comfortable support for the occupants legs.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a multiple position reclining chair having leg-rest control means so arranged as to move the leg-rest slightly downwardly relative to the seat as the body-supporting Thus, in the Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple position reclining chair of the character described in which the leg-rest control means includes a restraining member which is inactive during the first motion phase so that rearward movement of the body-supporting unit results in corresponding extension of the leg-rest to proper leg-supporting position, but which is operative during the second motion phase to cause the leg-rest to move upwardly at a lesser rate than the body-supporting unit.

In accordance with the invention herein, there is provided a reclining chair in which a body-supporting unit including a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest are mounted on a support frame for movement through a first motion phase about a first instantaneous center of rotation to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, and for further movement through a second motion phase about a second instantaneous center of rotation to a fully-tilted position. The chair also includes a leg-rest and a leg-rest mounting and actuating linkage which mounts the leg-rest on the seat, moves the leg-rest to an extended position when the body-supporting unit is moved to its intermediate position, and maintains the leg-rest in extended position when the body-supporting unit is moved to its fully-tilted position. The leg-rest mounting and actuating linkage includes a control link mounted on the support frame and being inactive during the first motion phase. During the second motion phase, the control link becomes operative to move the leg-rest downwardly relative to the seat to an adjusted leg-supporting position.

Specifically, the body-supporting unit is mounted on a carrier link by front and rear guide links which turn upon the stationary carrier link to provide the first instantaneous center of rotation during the first motion phase to guide the body-supporting unit rearwardly. During the second motion phase, the carrier link turns upwardly, carrying the seat to its fully-tilted position. The control link is connected to the rear guide link and moves the latter during the second motion phase in a forward direction relative to the carrier member thereby moving the seat slightly forwardly on the carrier member and lowering the leg-rest relative to the seat. The control link cooperates with the carrier link and the front and rear guide links to provide during the second motion phase the second instantaneous center of rotation which is movable.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair made in accordance with the present invention, with portions broken away and shown in section to reveal inner construction, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position; I

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the chair in its intermediate or active tilted sitting position with the leg-rest in its extended position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing the chair in its fully-tilted position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the actuating linkage in the position corresponding to the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the chair in its intermediate or active tilted sitting position, with the leg-rest in its extended leg-supporting position, and,

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the chair in its fully-tilted position.

Referring in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an illustrative example of a reclining chair incorporating the invention herein. This reclining chair may be designated as a multipleposition reclining chair in that it is capable of being brought from an upright sitting position, illustrated in FIG. 1, to an active intermediate tilted position shown in full line in FIG. 2, and thence may be brought to an inactive fully-tilted position, shown in FIG. 3.

The reclining chair includes a "base or support frame having spaced side walls 14 and 16 interconnected by suitable crossrods or braces 18 and supported on legs 20. The chair also includes a body-supporting unit designated generally by the reference numeral 22 which comprises a seat 24 and a back-rest 26 formed integrally with each other or rigidly connected to each other to form an integral rigid body-supporting unit. This body-supporting unit 22 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto to the two inclined positions previously decribed.

The means for mounting the body-supporting unit 22 on the support frame 10 includes a carrier link or support bar 30 mounted at its rear end on the support frame 10 by a fixed pivot 32. A pair of guide links 34 and 36 mount the body-supporting unit 22 on the carrier link 30. The rear guide link 36 is mounted intermediate its ends an intermediate portion of the carrier link 30 by pivot 38, and at its upper end is connected by pivot 40 to a plate or bracket 42 affixed to the lower portion of the seat 24. The front guide link 34 is mounted by pivot 44- to the front end of carrier link 30 and is connected by pivot 46 to the plate or bracket 42.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 50 supported by a leg-rest linkage 52 which is carried by the forward end portion of seat 24. The front guide link 34 is made in the form of a lever having an extension arm 54 serving as one link of the leg-rest linkage. The leg-rest linkage 52 also includes a pair of links 56 and 58 which are connected at their ends to spaced points on the leg-rest 50 by respective pivots 60 and 62. At its opposite end the link 56 is connected to the end of a link 64 by a pivot 66, and at its opposite end the link 58 is connected by pivot 68 to the lower end of the front guide link extension lever arm 54. The upper end of link 64 is mounted by pivot 70 on the forward portion of seat 24 through plate or bracket 42. The links 58 and 64 cross each other and are connected at their crossing-over point by pivot 72.

A plate or bar 74 is affixed to the support frame 10, serving as a rigid and immovable portion thereof, and has an upper lateral flange 76, The carrier link 30 normally rests upon this flange 76, as shown in FIG. 1, and is supported thereby in an immovable, substantially horizontal position.

The lower end of the rear guide link 36 projects below its pivotal mount 38 on the carrier link 30 and is connected by pivot 78 to the forward end of a control link 80. At its rear end, the control link 88 has an elongated longitudinal slot 82 which slidably receives a pin 84 affixed to the support frame 10. The lower portion of the rear guide link 36 also contains an angular slot 86, best seen in FIG. 4, which includes an arcuate upper section 88 and a section 90 depending from the rear end of upper section 88. A pin 92, afiixed to the plate or bracket 74, is slidably received in slot 38 and cooperates with the latter to serve as sequenching means for the chair movement, in a manner to be presently described.

In the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit 22 shown in FIG. 1, the carrier link 30 rests upon the bracket flange 76 and acts as a stationary portion of the support frame 10, The guide links 34 and 36 extend upwardly and forwardly from their respective pivotal mounts 44 and 38 on the stationary carrier link 30 and support the seat 24 in the substantially level position shown in FIG. 1. The pin 84 is at the front end of the slot 82, preventing the rear guide link 36 from turning forwardly about its pivotal mount 38 and thereby restraining the body-supporting unit 22 from forward and downward movement. The pin 92 is at the forward end of the upper section 88 of sequencing slot-86. The front guide link lever arm extension 54 extends downwardly from its pivotal connection 46 with the seat 24 and the leg-rest 50 is supported by the leg-rest linkage 52 in a retracted position beneath the forward end of seat 24.

To bring the body-supporting unit 22 from its upright sitting position of FIG.- 1 to its intermediate tilted position shown in FIG. 2, the user shifts his weight rearwardly and applies rearward pressure to the back-rest 26. This causes the body-supporting unit 22 to move rearwardly, the links 34 and 36 pivoting rearwardly on the stationary carrier link 30 for this purpose. It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the rear guide link 36 is in a substantially vertical position while the front guide link 34 is in a for-' wardly inclined position so that the body-supporting unit 22 is provided with a compound rearward movement, the forward end of the seat 24 being guided in a substantially horizontal rearward path by the front guiding link 3'4 and the rear end of the seat being guided in a rearward and downward path by the rear guiding link 36, so that during such first motion phase the seat is slightly tilted.

As the upper portion of the rear guiding link 36 turns rearwardly about its pivotal mount 38 in moving toward the intermediate tilted position, the lower portion of said link 36 turns forwardly, pulling the control link in a forward direction until the rear end of slot 82 engages the pin 84. This engagement of pin 84 with the rear end of slot 82 restrains further rearward pivoting movement of rear guide link 36 and halts further movement of the body-supporting unit 22 through the first motion phase at the intermediate position of FIG. 2.

As the front guide link 34 turns rearwardly during the first motion phase, it causes its extension lever arm 54 to turn forwardly and upwardly about its pivotal mount 46 on the seat. The arm 54 in turn raises and expands the leg-rest linkage 52 until the leg-rest 50 reaches its extended position shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when the bodysupporting unit is in its intermediate tilted position, the leg-rest is spaced forwardly of the front end of the seat 24 and is substantially at the level thereof in position to support the out-stretched legs of the occupant.

When the occupant wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he applies further rearward pressure against the body-supporting unit 22, causing the latter to move through a second motion phase toward the fully-tilted or reclining position of FIG. 3. Since the front and rear guide links 34 and 36 are restrained from further rearward pivoting movement, this second motion phase is achieved by upward pivoting movement of the carrier link 30 about its pivotal mount 32. As the carrier link 30 turns upwardly about its pivotal mount 32 during the second motion phase, it carries with it the guide links 34, 36 and the body-supporting unit 22. The seat 24 in turn carries with it the leg-rest linkage 52 and the extended leg-rest 50. During this movement, the control link 80 functions to lower the leg-rest 50 slightly relative to the front of seat 24. In this connection, it will be noted that when the carrier link 30 turns upwardly about the fixed pivot 32, and carries the rear guide link 36 upwardly, the control link 80 also turns upwardly about the pivot formed by the end of slot 82 and the fixed pin 84 in engagement therewith. A four-bar linkage is thus defined, including as movable links the carrier link 30 between pivots 32 and 38, the control link 80 between pivots 78 and 84, the rear guide link 36 between pivots 38 and 78, and as the stationary link the portion of the support frame between pivots 32 and 84. This four-bar linkage operates to move the rear guide link 36 in a forward or counter-clockwise direction during the second motion phase, thereby adjusting the legrest 50 in a downward direction relative to the seat as the chair is moved toward the fully-tilted or reclining position.

It will be appreciated that during the first motion phase, the body-supporting unit 22 turns along a first path of movement about a first instantaneous center defined by the front and rear guide links 34 and 36 which turn on the stationary carrier link 30. This instantaneous center of rotation is located well below the seat and can be located at the intersection of the axes of said guide links, and since the links 3 4 and 36 turn, the instantaneous center is movable. During the second motion phase, the body-supporting unit turns along a second path of movement about a second instantaneous center of rotation which is defined by movement of the carrier link 30 as well as the slight forward movement of the guide links 34 and 36. This second instantaneous center of rotation is also movable.

The limit of movement through the second motion phase is effected by engagement of the rear end portion of the body-supporting unit 22 with the rear cross-bar 18 and by engagement of the pin 92 with the bottom end of the slot section 90 in the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. An additional function of slot 86 in sequencing the movements of the body-supporting unit will also be appreciated by reference to FIG. 1. When the pin 92 is located in the upper slot section 88, the rear guide link 36 cannot rise relative to the plate 74, and therefore the carrier link 30 is also prevented from pivoting upwardly relative to the plate 74. This prevents the body-supporting unit 22 from moving directly through the second motion phase from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 and insures that the unit first moves through the first motion phase by the pivoting movement of the guide links 34 and 36 on the stationary carrier link 30.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5 to 7 inclusive, there is shown a further embodiment of multiple-position reclining chair demonstrating further features of the present invention. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts as employed in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, except that these reference numerals are a part of a 100 series. Since the chair is identical in construction and operation, except for the arrangement of the control link and its operative connections, a detailed description of the remaining components of the chair will be dispensed with in the interest of brevity.

In this embodiment, the control link 180 is downwardly and forwardly inclined when the chair is in the upright sitting position and is formed at its upper and rearward end with an elongated longitudinal slot 182 which slidably receives a pin 184 afiixed to the support frame 110. At its lower and forward end the control link 180 has a pivotal connection 178 to the extension arm or link 154 of the double-armed lever 154, 134 which in turn has a pivotal mount on the seat at 146.

During the first movement phase and in response to movement of the body-supporting unit 22 from its upright sitting position shown in FIG. 5 to the intermediate tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 6, it will be observed that the control link 180 turns through an upward and forward are about the fixed pivot or pin 184 and concurrently is displaced rearwardly through a lost motion travel, with the pin or fixed pivot 184 being engaged by the forward end of the slot 182 in the intermediate tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 6. During such first movement phase, the leg-rest 150 is moved to the elevated leg-supporting position as previously described. However, during the second movement phase, the control link 180 (which has an eifective length measured between the forward end of the slot 182 and the pivotal connection 178) exerts a constraining effect upon the leg-rest mounting linkage and on the leg-rest 150 and adjusts the leg-rest 150 in a downward direction relative to the seat 124 as the latter moves toward the fully tilted or reclined position illustrated in FIG. 7. During the second movement phase, the pivots 146, 170 on the seat 124 for the leg-rest mounting linkage would normally move rearwardly relative to the fixed pivot or pin 184 for the control link 180 when the carrier mem ber concurrent-1y turns about the carrier pivot 132. Accordingly, the control link 180 exerts a pushing force in a forward direction on the leg-rest mounting linkage and the leg-rest by its operative connection 178 to the lever arm or link 154 and exerts the desired compensating effect on the position of the leg-rest 150.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention an improved reclining chair of the multiple position type wherein the leg-rest is moved to an elevated legsupporting position forwardly of the body-supporting unit during the first movement phase and is adjusted in its elevated leg-supporting position in relation to the body-supporting unit during the second movement phase and as the body-supporting unit moves to its fully-tilted position. A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest, a first guiding linkage mounting the body-supporting unit for first rearwardly horizontal translational movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, means for blocking further rearward movement of the first guiding linkage at said intermediate, tilted sitting position, means providing a stationary pivotal center for said body-supporting unit in the intermediate, tilted sitting position for second upwardly and rearwardly rotational movement of the latter through a second motion phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a fully-tilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage carrying said leg-rest and operatively connected between said seat and support frame for elevating said leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of and substantially at the level of the front end of said seat during the first motion phase in response to said first rearwardly horizontal translational movement of said body-supporting unit, and control means providing a lost motion connection between said support frame and said first guiding linkage, said control means actuating said first guiding linkage in a reverse direction to move the body-supporting unitin a forwar-dly horizontal translational movement as said unit follows said rearwardly rotational movement during the second motion phase, whereby the leg-rest is slightly retracted relative to the seat.

2. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest, a first guiding linkage mounting the body-supporting unit for first rearwardly horizontal translational movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, means for blocking further rearward movement of the first guiding linkage at said intermediate, tilted sitting position, means providing a stationary pivotal center'for said body-supporting unit in the intermediate, tilted sitting position for second upwardly and rearwardly movement of the latter through a second motion phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a fullytilted position, a leg-rest, a leg-rest linkage carrying said leg-rest and operatively connected between said seat and support frame for elevating said leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to na extended position forwardly of and substantially at the lever of the front end of said seat during the first motion phase in response to said first rearwardly horizontal translational movement of said body-supporting unit, a control link movably mounted on the support frame and having a last motion connection with said first guiding linkage, said control link actuating said first guiding linkage in a reverse direction to move the body-supporting unit in a forwardly horizontal translational movement as said unit follows said rearwardly rotational movement during the second motion phase, whereby the leg-rest is slightly retracted relative to the seat.

3. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 2 in which said first guiding linkage includes a rear guide link, and in which said control link has a lost motion connection with said rear guide link.

4. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 2 in which said first guiding linkage includes a front guide link, and said control link is operatively coupled to said front guide link.

5. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a base frame, a body-supporting member including a unitary seat and back-rest attached to said base frame for a first rearwardly horizontal translational movement and a second upwardly and rearwardly rotational movement, a leg-rest normally vertically disposed at the forward end portion of said seat, a leg-rest supporting linkage including a first link pivotally connected at one end to a for-ward portion of said seat at a first seat pivot and pivotally connected at its other end to one end of a second link, the other end of said second link being pivotally connected to said leg-rest, a third link connected to a forward portion of said seat at a second seat pivot spaced rearwardly from said first seat pivot, a fourth link pivotally connected to said leg-rest, an intermediate portion of said first link and to the other end of said third link, a horizontally disposed leg-rest actuating link connected at its rearward end to said base at a base pivot, the forward portion of said actuating link normally resting on a portion of said base frame, the forward end of said actuating link being pivotally connected to said third link at a point spaced below said second seat pivot, whereby the included angle formed by said base pivot, actuating pivot and second seat pivot and second seat pivot is decreased upon rearward translational motion of said body supporting member and the distance between said second seat pivot and said base pivot is decreased to extend the leg-rest linkage and means for moving said seat and back-rest in a forwardly horizontal translational component during the second upwardly and rearwardly rotational movement thereof, whereby said included angle is increased, the distance between said second seat pivot and said base pivot is increased upon upwardly and rearwardly rotational motion of said body supporting means to slightly retract said leg-rest.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING VHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT FRAME, A BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INCLUDING A SEAT AND A BACK-REST, A FIRST GUIDING LINKAGE MOUNTING THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT FOR FIRST REARWARDLY HORIZONTAL TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT THROUGH A FIRST MOTION PHASE FROM AN UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION, MEANS FOR BLOCKING FURTHER REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST GUIDING LINKAGE AT SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION, MEANS PROVIDING A STATIONARY PIVOTAL CENTER FOR SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT IN THE INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION FOR SECOND UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER THROUGH A SECOND MOTION PHASE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION TO A FULLY-TILTED POSITION, A LEG-REST, A LEG-REST LINKAGE CARRYING SAID LEG-REST AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND SUPPORT FRAME FOR ELEVATING SAID LEG-REST FROM A RETRACTED POSITION BENEATH THE SEAT TO AN EXTENDED POSITION FORWARDLY OF AND SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LEVEL OF THE FRONT END OF SAID SEAT DURING THE FIRST MOTION PHASE IN RESPONSE TO SAID FIRST REARWARDLY HORIZONTAL TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT, AND CONTROL MEANS PROVIDING A LOST MOTION CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT FRAME AND SAID FIRST GUIDING LINKAGE, SAID CONTROL MEANS ACTUATING SAID FIRST GUIDING LINKAGE IN A REVERSE DIRECTION TO MOVE THE BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT IN A FORWARDLY HORIZONTAL TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT AS SAID UNIT FOLLOWS SAID REARWARDLY ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT DURING THE SECOND MOTION PHASE, WHEREBY THE LEG-REST IS SLIGHTLY RETRACTED RELATIVE TO THE SEAT. 